FIFA has fired secretary general Jerome Valcke, who is under investigation for misconduct, world football's governing body said Wednesday.

The former right-hand man to Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president banned for eight years, has been accused of aiding a scheme to sell 2014 World Cup tickets on the black market.

Five talking points ahead of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the tennis season which starts on Monday:

- Novak's great, but is he golden?

Novak Djokovic is hitting ever greater heights ahead of the Australian Open -- posing problems for his rivals, and raising distant hopes of the first ever men's "Golden Slam".

Picking up where he left off after a blistering 2015, Djokovic destroyed Rafael Nadal in last week's Qatar Open final, in a performance the Spaniard called "stratospheric".

Kobe Bryant's Achilles injury flared again as the Los Angeles Lakers ended a four-game losing streak with a 95-91 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

Bryant, who had missed Sunday's loss to the Utah Jazz with an Achilles problem, limped out of the contest in the second quarter after scoring seven points in 16 minutes.

Lebron James scored 27 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers snatched a thrilling overtime victory from the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.

James led the scoring for Cleveland after the Cavaliers had trailed for much of the contest as the Mavericks raced into an early 23-7 lead.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal dismissed suggestions that his side's enterprising 3-3 draw at Newcastle United was a riposte to critics who have accused them of boring football.

In a breathless contest against former United assistant coach Steve McClaren's team on Tuesday, United led 2-0 and 3-2, only to lose two points when Newcastle defender Paul Dummett equalized in the last minute.

Forward LaMarcus Aldridge tallied 25 points and 11 rebounds as San Antonio matched the best start in franchise history with a 106-79 rout of Brooklyn on Monday.

The Spurs improved to 33-6, matching the team's best 39-game start, a mark set during the 2010-11 season. San Antonio also posted its league-leading 14th win by at least 20 points while stretching its winning streak to eight games.

German world number seven Angelique Kerber withdrew from the Sydney International on Tuesday, adding to a lengthy list of ailing women stars ahead of next week's Australian Open.

The fourth seed, who won her first round match against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in fierce heat over three sets on Monday, pulled out of the tournament citing a gastrointestinal illness.

Holders Barcelona will be looking to seal their place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Wednesday in the final installment of three heated Catalan derbies against Espanyol over 10 days.

The European champions hold a commanding 4-1 lead from the first-leg which Espanyol ended with nine men after red cards for Hernan Perez and Papakouli Diop, whilst goalkeeper Pau Lopez escaped punishment for stamping on newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will face a stern test of their Premier League title credentials when they take on Liverpool on Wednesday.

Wenger's side head to Anfield two points clear at the head of the table and having won five of their last six league games.